Representative image. 
Sports

Brazilian weightlifter Reis out of Tokyo Olympics for doping

Brazil's Olympic Committee said that heavyweight weightlifter Fernando Reis has been suspended for doping and will not compete at the Tokyo Olympics. He was one of the favorites for a medal in the 105-kilogram category.

migrator

The committee said in a statement that 31-year-old Reis did not travel as expected last week after testing positive for a growth hormone. 

"The athlete is excluded of the delegation that will compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games," the Brazilian committee said. "We reinforce our commitment with clean sports as we keep several educational initiatives to fight against doping." Brazil's weightlifting confederation said in a separate statement that Reis was scheduled to travel next week, shortly before the July 23 opening ceremony of the Olympics. 

Reis' positive result came from an out-of-competition test on June 11, the confederation added. The Brazilian competed in the two previous Olympics and finished 11th in London 2012 and fifth in Rio de Janeiro 2016. 

Reis became the first Brazilian to win a medal at a major weightlifting championship, but his bronze only came in 2020, two years after the world championships. Uzbek Rustam Djangabaev was disqualified after being accused of sample-swapping. He was later banned for four years. 

Reis won gold in the last three Pan-American Games. 

Attorney Marcelo Franklin said "Reis is one of the most tested athletes in the world" and did not use any forbidden substance. "We will not speak about this case until the end of the trial so his image is preserved. We will take urgent measures," Franklin told website Globo Esporte after his client's ban was announced.

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android

LIVE | Tamil Nadu Assembly election results 2026: Vijay's TVK wins 75 seats; DMK alliance gets 66; AIADMK front: 39

TN election results 2026: Flags raised, banners go up, TVK cadres mark fort at Panaiyur

TVK candidate ECR Saravanan defeats DMK by massive margin in Sholinganallur

Stalin second sitting CM, after Jayalalithaa, to face defeat

TN election results 2026: TVK - the rare 'political startup' that turned 'unicorn' instantly